2019-20 MLB Hot Stove thread

[jooo83]

Do people really consider Bote a viable starting infield option? If so, why

 

[CSF77]

Do people really consider Bote a viable starting infield option? If so, why

I don't. He has a decent approach at the plate. That is his strength. 12.4% walks and 26.1% so. That is what Schwarber does on avg. .362 OBA also. You could make a arguement on starting 2B and leading off with him running those numbers.

So I can see a arguement at 2B to allow Nico to finish up his development.

3B in a aftermath of a Bryant trade the power is not there.

 

[CSF77]

But a everyday line up with the current players:

Bote 2B
Schwarber LF
Bryant 3B
Rizzo 1B
Baez SS
Happ CF
Contreras C
Heyward RF

Bench
Descalso UI
Caratini C
Short UI (emergency SS/26 man)
Kemp IF/OF
Almora OF


Now Cots has them at 2 mil over tax and that IMO could be addressed in Arb dealings. They are going by the Estimated pay out. Almora they are predicting 1.7M and I would offer .8 for his value. He stands firm at 1.7 I would pull the offer. And go with a cheaper 4th OF.

 

[beckdawg]

But a everyday line up with the current players:

Bote 2B
Schwarber LF
Bryant 3B
Rizzo 1B
Baez SS
Happ CF
Contreras C
Heyward RF

Bench
Descalso UI
Caratini C
Short UI (emergency SS/26 man)
Kemp IF/OF
Almora OF


Now Cots has them at 2 mil over tax and that IMO could be addressed in Arb dealings. They are going by the Estimated pay out. Almora they are predicting 1.7M and I would offer .8 for his value. He stands firm at 1.7 I would pull the offer. And go with a cheaper 4th OF.

That's not how arbitration really works though. If they offer him 80% and lose he gets whatever his side submitted and then the only way you get rid of that money is to trade him. In other words, they can't non-tender him now and save money if arbitration doesn't go their way. They are still on the hook.

 

[beckdawg]

Do people really consider Bote a viable starting infield option? If so, why

Think you need to state your intent for 2019. Is he viable as a starter if you're trying to win a world series? No. Is he viable if you're some what softly trying to punt 2019 to fix the luxury tax? I think that's fair. He's been a league average or so bat who has room to improve if his k rate comes down and he's been roughly average in terms of UZR. He's the prototypical guy you'd love to have as a rebuilding club to go out there and eat games and maybe breakthrough. He's cheap and not going to kill you offensively.

 

[CSF77]

That's not how arbitration really works though. If they offer him 80% and lose he gets whatever his side submitted and then the only way you get rid of that money is to trade him. In other words, they can't non-tender him now and save money if arbitration doesn't go their way. They are still on the hook.

Like I said. If they offer .8 and his counter is 1.7 and won't budge I would release him at that point to F/A.

 

[CSF77]

Think you need to state your intent for 2019. Is he viable as a starter if you're trying to win a world series? No. Is he viable if you're some what softly trying to punt 2019 to fix the luxury tax? I think that's fair. He's been a league average or so bat who has room to improve if his k rate comes down and he's been roughly average in terms of UZR. He's the prototypical guy you'd love to have as a rebuilding club to go out there and eat games and maybe breakthrough. He's cheap and not going to kill you offensively.

I think that he is a starter at 2B. Nico most likely needs more work on polishing his approach at the plate. He came out aggressive but needs to be more selective and that takes PA's at AAA vs pitchers that have pitched in the majors.

At 3B he lacks the power to justify it. He held a .362 OBA and could be used as a cheap lead off next year. Hit Bryant 3rd.

The way I look at it is Theo is never going to trade Bryant unless he gets a top prospect in return. And I just don't see it happening anytime soon.

If q team was willing to do so then the could just pay for Arendo and get better D and control with out losing at the plate.

The market is just not good to deal Bryant right now. 1 F/A and a better trade target out there if prospects are not an issue.

Theo would have to low-ball his value to override the market.

 

[beckdawg]

Like I said. If they offer .8 and his counter is 1.7 and won't budge I would release him at that point to F/A.

And you'd end up paying $1.7 mil regardless if the arbiter sides with him. That's my point. There is no low balling here. That's the reason the non-tender deadline earlier in the offseason matters because after that point you're paying them whatever you either agree on prior to the arbitration or whatever the arbiter says. Even if they were to release him today he'd still be getting whatever that arbiter decides.

 

[JimJohnson]

Do people really consider Bote a viable starting infield option? If so, why

Bote is dogshit

 

[SilenceS]

Do people really consider Bote a viable starting infield option? If so, why

Bote gets a bad wrap for some reason, but his bat is league average with his terrible year against lefties. He hit righties well. He has great exit velocity on his bat and seems to be a later bloomer. He isnt a scrub, but he isnt Bryant. He could easily start for teams.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Bote gets a bad wrap for some reason, but his bat is league average with his terrible year against lefties. He hit righties well. He has great exit velocity on his bat and seems to be a later bloomer. He isnt a scrub, but he isnt Bryant. He could easily start for teams.

He could start for bad teams

 

[SilenceS]

He could start for bad teams

okkkk

 

[beckdawg]

So apparently the twins have a 4 year offer out to Donaldson. If they manage to sign him that makes the whole bryant trade market a lot more interesting.

 

[kerrywoodwins20]

Looks like the Cubs won’t even address the glaring hole in the lead off position. If you know you’re this broke organizationally, you absolutely do not sign Kimbrel.

Time to just accept that Theo has zero plan for how to get out of this shit situation his miserable decisions has put this team.

 

[CSF77]

So apparently the twins have a 4 year offer out to Donaldson. If they manage to sign him that makes the whole bryant trade market a lot more interesting.

they are making some interesting moves for sure. Hill should impact the 2nd half. Homer got better outside of the launching pad in Cinn. From what they are saying Sano would shift to 1B and Donaldson to 3B.

It would make them interesting in the AL. I believe that the Stroes took a major hit this year and Minn is aiming for that #2 spot in the AL power rankings. NYY is going to be the toughest team in that League.

But if that did go through then the Nats and the Braves would up their offers for Bryant and Arenado. It could up Nats being the Cubs main suitor and the prospect wealthier Braves investing more into Nolan.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Looks like the Cubs won’t even address the glaring hole in the lead off position. If you know you’re this broke organizationally, you absolutely do not sign Kimbrel.

Time to just accept that Theo has zero plan for how to get out of this shit situation his miserable decisions has put this team.

Just want to re-emphasize that the team is not broke and that’s not what not spending money these last two offseasons was about

 

[anotheridiot]

there were three options not tried at leadoff last year, Hoerner, Baez and KB.

They say Baez cant do it, then gets a shot two days in a row before getting injured and walks twice, but then , cannot keep doing it because Heyward, Rizzo, Bryant, Schwarber are not driving in enough runs so he has to do that too.

Maybe the plan is Ross has a plan with the current roster.

 

[beckdawg]

It's worth noting that while the cubs haven't spent money on players they've spent an ass load on development. They've hired like 10+ new positions for pitching coaches who use stuff similar to driveline and they also added several hitting coaches to do like wise. Between that and the equipment those people will need it's not cheap.

I know people get pissy but for me I'm just like... meh. The issue is that once you're over the luxury tax it becomes more and more difficult to get out of it if you don't do what the cubs are doing. And every year you're over it things get worse penalty wise. So, if i have any complaints it's more just that they haven't been active in the trade market though obviously the whole bryant situation is slowing that down.

As for the lead off hitter, I doubt they ever intended to sign one because unless he's just terrible next year Hoerner most likely is going to win the job if not in ST then likely by mid season.

 

[kerrywoodwins20]

It's worth noting that while the cubs haven't spent money on players they've spent an ass load on development. They've hired like 10+ new positions for pitching coaches who use stuff similar to driveline and they also added several hitting coaches to do like wise. Between that and the equipment those people will need it's not cheap.

I know people get pissy but for me I'm just like... meh. The issue is that once you're over the luxury tax it becomes more and more difficult to get out of it if you don't do what the cubs are doing. And every year you're over it things get worse penalty wise. So, if i have any complaints it's more just that they haven't been active in the trade market though obviously the whole bryant situation is slowing that down.

As for the lead off hitter, I doubt they ever intended to sign one because unless he's just terrible next year Hoerner most likely is going to win the job if not in ST then likely by mid season.

Hoerner had one of the worst chase rates on pitches out of the zone of all time last year. Relying on a guy like that to hit lead off is not something a competently run organization does.

 

[kerrywoodwins20]

Just want to re-emphasize that the team is not broke and that’s not what not spending money these last two offseasons was about

You can be currently broke while not being broke overall.

If Theo knew they had to slash payroll and get under the luxury tax, that still makes them currently broke. And he wasted a lot of money to get to this point, even likely knowing this point was coming. That ain’t smart.